(Photo courtesy of Washington Athletics)
The 2024 NFL draft is officially in the books, so what should we expect from the nine players the Ravens selected for this coming season and beyond?
While general manager Eric DeCosta tabbed defensive players with two of his first three picks, Baltimore completed its draft class by taking offensive players with three of the last four choices. Overall, the Ravens came away with five offensive players and four defensive players over the weekend and made two selections in the seventh round for the first time since 2013.
Below is an early look at how each draft pick fits immediately and in the long run:
CB Nate Wiggins
Drafted: First round (30th overall) out of Clemson
2024 projected role: Baltimore has traditionally brought its first-round rookie corners along slowly, but working the speedy Wiggins into some sub packages as the top reserve behind outside starters Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens is the immediate expectation.
Long-term outlook: Other than adding bulk to his slight 6-foot-1, 182-pound frame, Wiggins is the entire package with the ability to press receivers and react quickly in off-coverage. With Stephens entering a contract year and Humphrey coming off an injury-plagued 2023 and carrying the Ravens’ second-highest salary cap number, Wiggins becoming the No. 1 corner in the next year or two isn’t out of the question.
OT Roger Rosengarten
Drafted: Second round (62nd overall) out of Washington
2024 projected role: Finding impactful rookie offensive line starters beyond the top 20 picks is rare, but Rosengarten being a plug-and-play right tackle would go a long way toward quelling concerns about an offensive line that lost three starters from last season.
Long-term outlook: Despite short arms for the right tackle position and a need to get stronger, Rosengarten has the quickness and feet to succeed in pass protection and in Todd Monken’s offense that uses more zone blocking. Wiggins is the top player in Baltimore’s draft class, but Rosengarten becoming a dependable multiyear starter would go a long way in fortifying the perception of this group.
OLB Adisa Isaac
Drafted: Third round (93rd overall) out of Penn State
2024 projected role: Considering the lack of proven options behind Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, the race for rotation snaps is wide open for a 6-foot-4, 253-pound edge rusher who played extensively over four seasons in the Big Ten and collected 7 1/2 sacks last season.
Long-term outlook: Penn State teammate Chop Robinson has a higher ceiling and was taken in the first round by Miami, but Isaac has the traits to become a starting edge defender, especially if he can add strength while maintaining his explosiveness. Outside linebacker has been an annual need since the departure of Terrell Suggs, and Isaac has the ability to be an impact contributor over the next four years.
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WR Devontez Walker
Drafted: Fourth round (113th overall) out of North Carolina
2024 projected role: The speedy 6-foot-2, 193-pound wideout should have opportunities as a No. 3 or No. 4 option to stretch the field and stress the back end of the defense, especially if he can get on the same page with Lamar Jackson quickly.
Long-term outlook: Walker needs more polish to become a consistent contributor at the next level, but you can see why DeCosta compared him to Torrey Smith with his high-end speed and underrated physicality to win downfield. If he can improve his route-running ability and catch the football more consistently, there’s no reason Walker can’t become a productive No. 2 or No. 3 receiver.
CB T.J. Tampa
Drafted: Fourth round (130th overall) out of Iowa State
2024 projected role: Given the shortage of proven outside corners on the roster, the 6-foot-1 Tampa has a chance to be the No. 4 option and would only be an injury away from seeing snaps in sub packages, especially if he can be a consistent special-teams player.
Long-term outlook: Another outside corner with plus size, Tampa was arguably the best value pick of Baltimore’s nine selections with some believing he could have been selected as early as the second round. He doesn’t have the elite speed of Wiggins, but a long corner with the ability to play press coverage eventually becoming a starter or at least a top backup is a possibility.
RB Rasheen Ali
Drafted: Fifth round (165th overall) out of Marshall
2024 projected role: Assuming he’s recovered from the biceps injury sustained at the Senior Bowl, Ali should compete with Justice Hill for change-of-pace snaps behind four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, especially with Keaton Mitchell’s status unclear to open 2024.
Long-term outlook: Ali showed some big-play ability at the collegiate level and was productive when healthy, but durability is a concern as well as issues with ball security. With Hill entering the final year of his contract, the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Ali could be his replacement, especially if he can excel on special teams and be a solid receiving option out of the backfield.
QB Devin Leary
Drafted: Sixth round (218th overall) out of Kentucky
2024 projected role: John Harbaugh again confirmed Josh Johnson will be the primary backup to Jackson, so Leary will be competing with Malik Cunningham for the No. 3 quarterback spot, whether that’s on the 53-man roster or part of the practice squad.
Long-term outlook: A favorite of quarterbacks coach Tee Martin in this draft class, Leary has the arm talent to developing into a viable backup, but his touch and accuracy must improve for him to be a long-term NFL quarterback. He will be 25 in September while Johnson turns 38 next month, so we’ll see whether the Ravens observe enough growth in Leary to want to hand him the No. 2 keys by 2025.
C Nick Samac
Drafted: Seventh round (228th overall) out of Michigan State
2024 projected role: With Sam Mustipher signing with Denver earlier this month, the Ravens need a backup to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, but the versatile Patrick Mekari also provides a safety net at that position if Samac isn’t ready for the role.
Long-term outlook: An athletic three-year starter for the Spartans who suffered a broken fibula late last season, Samac looks like a good fit for Monken’s system and would be a cheap backup to Linderbaum, who is eligible for a contract extension as early as next offseason. A seventh-round pick is far from a lock to make the 53-man roster, but Samac’s pedigree made him a solid value this late in the draft.
S Sanoussi Kane
Drafted: Seventh round (250th overall) out of Purdue
2024 projected role: The safety depth is very scarce behind starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams, so the two-year starter from Purdue figures to have a decent chance to stick on the 53-man roster, especially if he can excel on special teams.
Long-term outlook: The 5-foot-11, 204-pound Kane profiles as a run-stopping box safety, so he doesn’t really fit the mold of an eventual replacement for fellow seventh-round pick Geno Stone. You never envision a late-round pick as a starter anyway, but Kane’s tackling ability and toughness could help on special teams and eventually make him a hybrid option in sub packages if he improves in pass coverage.
